Metabolic syndrome risk is associated with lower cardiovascular fitness and daily activity levels among young adults

Abstract

Research related to metabolic syndrome (MbS) and chronic disease risk in young adults (18–24) is lacking. The Young Adult Health Risk Screening Initiative is an ongoing cross‐sectional investigation of chronic disease risk among students at the University of New Hampshire. We have previously reported that MbS criteria are higher in young adults with lower self‐reported levels of physical activity. To validate this finding, we examined MbS in relation to cardiovascular fitness via 1‐mile Rockport Walk Test and daily activity via 7‐day pedometer step log (n=256, 69% women). MbS criteria include abdominal obesity (waist ≥ 40 in), hypertrigylceridemia (≥ 150 mg/dl), low HDL‐C (< 40 mg/dl), hypertension (≥ 130/85 mm Hg), and elevated glucose (≥ 100 mg/dl). Mean number of MbS criteria was 1.0±0.06; mean VO2max was 48.8±.4 ml/kg·min; & mean steps per day was 9215±184. Young adults in the top quartile for cardiovascular fitness (VO2max) had lower number of MbS criteria as compared to those in lowest quartile (0.7±.1 vs. 1.3±.1, p<.05). Young adults in the lowest quartile for daily activity (steps per day) had greater number of MbS criteria as compared to those in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles (1.3±.1 vs. 0.9±.1, p=.05; 1.3±.1 vs. 0.9±.1, p<.05). These findings validate our previous work and demonstrate that fitness level and daily activity are negatively associated with MbS criteria in young, college adults.Grant Funding Source: NH Agricultural Experiment Station